In Tearing Haste: Letters between Deborah Devonshire and Patrick Leigh Fermor Book

Letters 1954 to 2007

This book is a wonderful reminder of the inestimable value of really, really, really good friends; the type of friend who knows you far, far better than you think you know yourself.

PLF is quizzically revealed as being unable to spell "Tues" (for Tuesday); in haste he idiosyncratically spells it "Teus". This collection of correspondence is shot through with so many odd and delightful whimsies; such as mention (p.76) of the provision of a "Complaints" Book to sit alongside the House "Visitors' Book", a plain paper book, lined, in which on departure, overnight house guests write a factual (or farcical) account of their stay! Rather a good idea, I thought! Wish I'd thought of it.

Correspondence, written in warm humour, over very many years, such as is contained in this book, is a heart-warming reminder of the pleasure and riches of the friendship of equal minds, working differently, sparking off each other..

There is so much to fascinate; including insights from PLF's memories of and struggles not only in writing, "A Time of Gifts"; but also a vivid portrayal of Society in Britain from 1954 to 2007 (the date of this book's publication), Surprises too, of the type, "I never knew that" abound; such as PLF and Debo's staunch friendships with Ann Charteris, who had become Mrs (Ian) Fleming (of the James Bond books) in 1952 (her third marriage); and the desperately serious difficulties she later experienced when Fleming, who had tied up his estates in horribly (needlessly?) complicated trusts, died. Neither had I previously realised that Prime Minister (1957-1963) Harold Macmillan was a scion of the family who owned the publisher Macmillan; one of my favourite twentieth century publishers.

Each letter is fully referenced to explain who's who and what's what. The only fly in the ointment is that, understandably, such references are not repeated. So if the reader does forget, recourse must be made to the index at the end of the book; not difficult; just a whisker distracting.

All in all this book is simply HUGE fun; despite now standing as a monument to celebrate two remarkable and inspirational persons, and their friendship.